Qdoba Searches for Ultimate Sports Fanatic

A sea of blue and gold costumes, hair and face paint--sprinkled with a generous helping of buoyant enthusiasm--helped students of Marquette University in Milwaukee bring home a victory for the school and its basketball fans in the Ultimate Sports Fanatic Contest, created by Coca-Cola and hosted by Qdoba Mexican Grill.

The online competition--designed to celebrate the many ways NCAA basketball fans indulge their fanaticism during the annual rite of March Madness-–inspired hundreds of fans across the country to submit photos of themselves and their friends online in the hopes of winning the title of the “Ultimate Sports Fanatic.”

But it was Marquette University students who overwhelmed the competition by winning both the individual “Ultimate Sports Fanatic” and the “Most Fanatical School” categories. After a rigorous judging process it was determined that Marquette student Robert Immen submitted the winning photo--a spirited depiction of four men who painted the retired jersey of former Marguette player Dwayne Wade onto their chests. As the Grand Prize winner, Immen will receive a $5,000 premium electronics gift card, a 25-person Hot Bar from Qdoba, plus a big goodie bag compliments of Coke.

Immen’s Marquette classmates also displayed their spirit by beating arch rival the University of Wisconsin at Madison to take the “Most Fanatical School” award by posting the highest total number of photos (938) featuring fanatical Marquette fans. Each individual who posted a photo will receive a free entrée at Qdoba for their efforts.

In addition, hundreds of online visitors to the Qdoba web site voted in “Head2Head” competitions featuring two photos “facing off" in side-by-side competitions for online votes. The photo with the highest percentage of popular votes garnered Doug Lardes of Boulder, Colorado, a $250 Q-cash card for his submission.

And finally, each day throughout the competition individual photos earned the title of “Fanatic of the Day” gaining the fan who submitted the photo a $25 Q-cash card.

“We were thrilled to be a part of this annual rite and help add a little more fun to March Madness across the country,” says Rachel Harber, marketing manager at Qdoba Mexican Grill. “It was great fun to see schools compete for attention on the web site. We definitely discovered just how spirited NCAA fans can be.”

Coca-Cola is an Official NCAA Corporate Champion. NCAA, Final Four, and March Madness are licensed by or trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.